Television display device and method of operating a television system

ABSTRACT

A television display system with a television display for displaying television services and internet information, and an input unit for providing a command, the television display system receiving a data stream containing a plurality of key files, each key file including executable data and a respective key image representing said executable data. The television display system includes a memory for continuously maintaining over a period at least one of the key files, a display section displaying upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events, a key image stored in said memory, superposed on a displayed said television service, said key image upon activation executing said executable data included in the same key file. The system also includes a command section for executing content of the key file of the displayed respective image conditional upon a key command being provided by the input unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 USC 120 from U.S. application Ser. No. 11/854,904, filed Sep.13, 2007, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/645,277, filed Aug. 24,2000, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference. This application also claims the benefit of priority under 35USC §119 from European patent Application No. 99306779.2, filed Aug. 26,1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a television display device and amethod of operating a television system, more particularly to atelevision display device and system using a television display fordisplaying television services and an input unit for providing at leastone command.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is well known to receive television services and display these on atelevision display. Devices for receiving broadcast information andproducing appropriate display information may be provided integrallywith a television display or as a separate unit. In this regard, it isknown to display digital television services by means of a Set Top Boxin conjunction with a television display.

With the increased number of television services available, togetherwith many other functional devices available throughout the home, usersare presented with a large number of control functions. There is aproblem that, with this large number of control functions, users becomeconfused and cannot take advantage of all of the functions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide systems wherebyenhanced control can be achieved, whilst providing a morestraightforward interface with the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a method ofoperating a receiver for receiving electronic information, the methodincluding:

storing a plurality of alarms;

selecting an event and associating an alarm with said event;

selecting an action and associating said alarm with said action;

detecting an occurrence of said event;

upon detecting an occurrence of said event, actuating said selectedalarm; and

initiating said action conditional on whether or not a control commandis received.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a receptiondevice for receiving electronic information, the device including:

a memory for storing a plurality of alarms;

an event selector for selecting an event and associating said event witha selected one of the plurality of alarms;

an action selector for selecting an action and associating said actionwith the selected alarm;

a detection section for detecting said event and, in response, actuatingthe selected alarm; and

a command section for initiating said action conditional on whether ornot a control command is provided to the device when the alarm isactuated.

The reception device can be any suitable audio/visual device such as aradio, telephone, television, internet receiver, etc and the alarm cantake any form such as a sound or an image. Events can include timerevents, internal functions or events signified by the receivedelectronic information.

By allowing a user to select an alarm for a particular event, the usercan select an alarm which he or she feels is most appropriate. In thisway, when the alarm is activated, the event will be immediatelyrecognized.

By associating an action with an alarm, it is not necessary for the userto consider taking all of the necessary steps for that particularaction. The action has been pre-associated with the alarm, such that asimple command from the user will cause that preselected action to takeplace.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method ofoperating a television system having a television service receiver, atelevision display for displaying television services and an input unit,the method including storing a plurality of control images;

selecting an event and associating a control image with said event;

selecting an action and associating said control image with said action;

detecting an occurrence of said event;

upon detecting an occurrence of said event, displaying for apredetermined period said control image on a portion of the televisiondisplay superposed on the television service being viewed; and

initiating said action conditional on whether or not a control commandis received by the television system from the user within saidpredetermined period.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a televisiondisplay device for use with a television display for displayingtelevision services and an input unit for providing at least one commandto the television display device, the television display deviceincluding:

a memory for storing a plurality of control images;

an event selector for selecting an event and associating said event witha selected one of the plurality of control images;

an action selector for selecting an action and associating said actionwith the selected control image;

a display section for detecting said event and, in response, producingdisplay information for displaying for a predetermined period theselected control image on a portion of the television display superposedon the television service being viewed; and

a command section for initiating said action conditional on whether ornot a control command is provided by the input unit within saidpredetermined period.

In this way, a user may be warned of a pre-selected event by theappearance of a control image on the television display during thereproduction of some television service. The user might select the startof a particular television program as the event, such that, whilstwatching some other television program, the appearance of the controlimage will warn the user that the selected television program is aboutto start.

By means of the invention also, the event and control image may beassociated with a particular action. In this way, the user can selectactions such as “change channel” or “start video recorder” so that, uponseeing the control image and depressing a single control button, thesystem will automatically change to the appropriate television channelor automatically start the video recorder.

By means of the present invention, the user is automatically alerted toan event and is provided with a very simple means, e.g. a single button,by which any pre-selected action may be initiated.

Preferably, a plurality of control images may be selected and associatedwith a plurality of respective events and actions.

In this way, the user may select a variety of different control imagessignifying various events, such as various television programs forviewing. Each control image and event may also have its own associatedaction and all actions may be initiated by means of the same singlecontrol button.

A control image need not always be associated with an action. In thiscase, in response to a particular event, the respective control imagewill merely be displayed for a predetermined period.

Hence, the control image may merely provide a warning to the user, forinstance indicating that a telephone call should be made, but notrequiring any automatic action within the system.

Events can include one or more of start of a pre-selected televisionservice, start of a pre-selected category of television service, startof a desired portion of a television service, a system failure and apre-selected time. Similarly, actions can include one or more ofchanging the television service being displayed, starting a videorecorder and powering down the television display.

The selected action can be initiated automatically when no controlcommand is provided within the predetermined period or, alternatively,only when the control command is provided within the predeterminedperiod. Preferably, this is selectable by the user according to thenature of the event and the required action.

Each control image may include position data such that the displaysection positions the control image on the television display accordingto that position data. In this way, the control image may be positionedon the television display at a position appropriate for the image. Forinstance, an image of an aeroplane signifying the start of a travelprogram might be positioned at the top of the television display,whereas the image of a car, signifying a motoring program, might bepositioned at the bottom of the television display.

Control images may be animated. Hence, the display section cansequentially display the individual images making up the animatedcontrol image. Furthermore, the position data may move betweensequential images, such that the animated image moves across thetelevision display.

The television display device may be for use with a broadcast streamcontaining a stream of key files including data representingrepresentative key images, the television display device furtherincluding:

a memory for maintaining continuously in memory at least one of said keyfiles; wherein

the display section, when displaying the selected control image,simultaneously displays the key image of one of the data files currentlystored superposed on the television service being viewed;

the command section executes the content of the key file of thedisplayed respective key image conditional on a key command beingprovided by the input unit within said predetermined period.

In this regard, the present application also provides a televisiondisplay device for use with a television display for displayingtelevision services, an input unit for providing at least one command tothe television display device and a broadcast stream containing a streamof key files including data representing respective key images, thetelevision display device including:

a memory for maintaining continuously in memory at least one of the keyfiles;

a display section for displaying, on occurrence of any of a number ofpreselected events, the key image of one of the key files currentlystored superposed on the television service being viewed; and

a command section for executing the content of the key file of thedisplayed respective key image conditional on a key command beingprovided by the input unit within a predetermined period.

Similarly the present application provides a method of operating atelevision system having a television service receiver, a televisiondisplay for displaying television services and an input control, thetelevision services including a broadcast stream containing a stream ofkey files including data representing respective key images, the methodincluding:

maintaining continuously in memory at least one of the key files;

displaying, on occurrence of any of a number of preselected events, thekey image of one of the key files currently stored superposed on thetelevision service being viewed; and

executing the content of the key file of the displayed respective keyimage conditional on a key command being provided by the input unitwithin a predetermined period.

In this way, key images may be provided superposed on the televisiondisplay indicating access to some further data and that data, whateverit is, may be accessed by the user operating a single command button.The key image may be an advertiser's logo, such that operating thecommand button will give access to the full television advertisement.

By associating a key image with a control image, an advertisement willbe made available on the television display whenever a control imageappears on the display to signify a particular event. Where the eventsare indicated by signals provided by the service provider, funding forproviding the signals will be provided by the associated advertising.

Preferably, each control image includes information for determining theposition of an associated key image such that the display sectionpositions the key image on the television display according to thatinformation.

In this way, the control and key images are automatically arranged tointeract with one another appropriately on the television display. Forinstance, with a control image as an aeroplane, the key image could bepositioned behind the aeroplane so as to appear as a banner beingdragged by the aeroplane.

Preferably, the control image specifies a locator position within thekey image such that the display section positions the key image bypositioning the locator position on the television display according tothe information from the control image.

In this way, where a control image is intended to connect with a keyimage at the top of the key image, then the display section identifies alocator position at the top of the key image and then positions the keyimage according to this top locator position.

Preferably, the key image is an animated image and the display sectionreproduces the animated image.

The key image may include animation data relating to its animation andthe display section can allow negotiation between a key image and thecontrol image with which it is to be displayed so as to ensure thattheir animation characteristics conform.

In this way, where the relative animation characteristics, such as framerate or cycle time, are important to the overall appearance of the keyand control images, the key and control images may negotiate variationsto their characteristics to ensure that they are in conformity.

Preferably, after a key file from the memory has been executed by thecommand section, another key file from the broadcast stream is stored.In this way, a different key file will be available next time an eventoccurs requiring the display of a key image. This is particularly usefulwhere a selection of advertisements are to be displayed.

Preferably, the television display device is DVB-MHP compliant and maybe embodied in a television Set Top Box or in an integrated televisionsystem including a television display.

Using a DVB-MHP compliant device allows the functions of the televisiondisplay device to be implemented in Java on an MHP API.

In this way, a system can easily be adapted to operate the presentinvention, merely by downloading the appropriate functions as Javaapplications.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a broadcastsystem including a carousel of key files for use with the displaydevice.

There is also provided code components that, when loaded on a DVB-MHPcompliant device and executed will cause that device to operate asdescribed above.

There is also provided code components that define one or more controlimages as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system which can embody the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a control image on a display;

FIG. 3 illustrates selection of a program on an EPG;

FIG. 4 illustrates selection of a control image on a display;

FIG. 5 illustrates selection of a control image for a particular time ona display;

FIG. 6 illustrates a key image in conjunction with a control image; and

FIGS. 7 to 13 illustrate UML diagrams of various objects which mayembody the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdescription, given by way of example only, with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

The present invention may be embodied in an integrated television systemin which the television display and all of the various functional unitsare provided in a single housing. It may also be embodied in a system inwhich functional components are distributed between different units.However, in the embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, the present inventionis embodied in a Set Top Box 2 for use with a television display 4.Control is provided by means of a input unit 6 which is preferably aremote control hand set.

As illustrated, the Set Top Box 2 includes a tuner 8 for receiving an RFsignal and converting it to a digital bit stream. The present inventionmay be used with RF signals received by any means, such as terrestrial,cable and satellite. The nature of the tuner 8 will be dependent on theRF signal that needs to be received and, typically, a differentcomponent is required for each transmission technology. The digitalinformation stream coming from the tuner 8 is passed to a demultiplexer12 which splits the different wanted and unwanted components. Therequired audio and video components are passed to the AV decoder 14which takes the relevant MPEG comprised AV bit streams from thedemultiplexer 12 and decompresses them to (higher bandwidth) TV signals.Finally, the TV encoder 16 produces a signal appropriate for receptionby a traditional interlaced TV or monitor.

A controller or CPU 18 is provided to control the tuner 10,demultiplexer 12, A/V MPEG decoder 14 and TV encoder 16. Furthermore,operating together with the TV encoder 16 at least, it forms a displaysection and command section allowing signals to be inserted into the TVsignals in order that images may be superposed on the received TVimages. In particular, the TV encoder 16 may receive the raw decodedvideo information from the A/V decoder 14, together with additionalaudio and video information from the controller 18 and blend theincoming signals together.

The controller 18 is preferably composed of a CPU, RAM and a JavaDVB-MIS' VM (DVB Multimedia Home Platform Virtual Machine). The JavaDVB-MHP VM represents an abstraction layer to the hardware and allows aprogram that is created on a Java compliant machine to be executed onSet Top Boxes of different makes.

The illustrated Set Top Box also includes a persistent or back-up memory20. In most cases, this will be a flash memory, a kind of semiconductormemory which can be programmed and which will retain its contents evenif the Set Top Box is not supplied with any power. Other kinds ofpersistent memory may be RAM with battery back-up or a hard disk drive.This memory merely provides a back-up of any data entered into thesystem.

The control 18 is connected to a remote control interface 22 forinterfacing with the input unit 6 and for receiving control commandstherefrom.

In the illustrated embodiment, an i-Link interface 24 is provided. Thisis a high speed bus which is sometimes also referred to as IEEE 1394 orFireWire (Apple). It may be used to interconnect peripheral devices,such as other video/audio or computer devices.

A modem 26 may also be provided in order to link the controller 18 to anetwork, such as the Internet. This allows the Set Top Box 2 to receiveinformation other than in the broadcast stream. Furthermore, it providesthe Set Top Box with a return channel allowing, for instance, voting andcollaborative game applications.

During normal use of the Set Top Box 2, a selected television service,such as a particular television program, is displayed on the televisiondisplay 4. In order that the user may be alerted to a particular event,it is now proposed that a control image is displayed on the televisiondisplay superposed on the television service currently being viewed.This is illustrated in FIG. 2.

To produce the control image, the controller 18 provides the appropriatedisplay information to the TV encoder 16 such that the control imageappears on the television display 4.

The control image only appears for a short predetermined period, forinstance of the order of 3 seconds. The control image may be a staticimage at one position on the television display. However, preferably,the control image is able to move around the area of the display and,preferably, the control image itself may be animated. Furthermore, thecontrol “image” may actually include two or more images at differentpositions on the display. The control image may also be accompanied bysounds.

By providing a number of control images, a user can select one of theimages which, in his or her view, best indicates an associated event.Thus, having selected a particular control image, when that controlimage appears on the television display 4, the user is reminded of theevent for which he or she selected that control image. All of thevarious control images may be stored as control images files in thememory 20.

Control images should be large enough to be recognized immediately, butsmall enough not to disturb the normal program or television service.They are chosen by the user so as to have some meaning to the user sothat, when a particular control image appears on the television display,it has a definite meaning to that user.

Preferably, the selection of control images can be changed. A user mayacquire and/or download additional or different control images.Alternatively, the system might allow the user to create new controlimages. Hence, in this way, users are able to have control images whichbest indicate to them the associated event.

In order to provide greater interest, the control images may, asmentioned above, be animated and move about the display 4. For instance,an image of a train may move across the bottom of the display, whereasan image of a ball may bounce across the bottom of the display. Thus,the control image files include position information, which may berelated to animation data, which the controller 18 uses to provideappropriate information to the TV encoder 16 so as to show the imagemoving over the television display 4 appropriately. The control imagesmay also be associated with sounds appropriate for their images, i.e.the sounds of a train or a ball bouncing for the examples given above.

The control images can be associated with any desired event detectableby the controller 18. Hence, the control unit 18 might detect apreselected event indicated by a signal in the broadcast stream, overthe i-Link or from the modem.

Control image may be activated by any event that can be detected by theSet Top Box. Valid events include:

1) button presses on the remote control,

2) service information events, i.e. events that are described in theDVB-SI tables, e.g. the start or ending of a program,

3) stream events as described by DVB, e.g. a change in the score overfootball game on another channel,

4) time events;

5) system events, e.g. warnings or failure messages like “VCR end oftape” or “i-Link communication problem”.

According to established standards, such as DVB, television broadcastservices include data indicating certain information, for instance thestart times, of television programs. Furthermore, it is possible todisplay on the television display 4 an electronic program guide or EPG.This is illustrated in FIG. 3.

Having selected a particular program, starting at a particular time on aparticular day on a particular channel, it is then possible to assign acontrol image to the event of that program starting. Preferably, havingchosen a particular program and as illustrated in FIG. 4, the user ispresented with a window in which he or she can scroll through thevarious control images stored in the memory 20. Having assigned aparticular control image, at the start of the selected program, thecontroller 18 will cause that control image to be displayed on thetelevision display 4. In this way, the user will be reminded of thestart of the selected program.

Apart from individually assigning a control image to a particulartelevision program, standards exist whereby programs are categorized,for instance sport, gardening, films. Therefore, a user can assign acontrol image an action to a particular category of television program.Similarly, it is also possible for the system itself to build up aprofile of a viewer's habits, such that it produces a control imagebased on the type of programs in which the viewer has previously showninterest.

It may be that the user only requires a reminder. In this respect, theevent may merely be a time. For example, as illustrated by FIG. 5, theuser may select a particular time at which he or she is expected to makea telephone call. This might be signified by a control image showing atelephone.

According to the present invention, however, the system also allows anaction to be initiated.

Having selected a control image for association with a particular event,the system allows the user to select an associated action. In this way,appearance of a control image not only signifies a preselected event,but also signifies an action which the user might wish to initiate uponoccurrence of that event. So that the user does not have to carry outthe action, a single predetermined control button is provided on theinput unit 6 for initiating such actions. Thus, during the predeterminedperiod in which the control image is displayed on the television display4 so as to signify a particular event, operation of the control buttonon the input unit 6 will cause the associated action to be initiated. Arecord of what action is associated with what event is stored by thecontroller 18 and memory 20 such that the user need only consider usinga single control button.

Upon seeing a particular control image, the user will know that thepre-associated action will be initiated automatically upon depressingthe control button of the input unit 6. The associated actions may beanything under the control of the controller 18. Thus, the control 18could change the channel being viewed on the television display 4, couldoperate a video recorder or such like or could transmit signals via themodem 26. By way of example, having set an event as the start of aparticular television program, the action could be to change channels tothe appropriate channel for that program or to start operation of avideo recorder to record that program.

It is envisaged that usually the action will not be taken unless thecontrol button of the input unit 6 is depressed during the predeterminedperiod in which the control image is displayed. However, it is alsopossible to arrange actions such that they will take place automaticallyunless the control button of the input unit 6 is depressed during thepredetermined period in which the control image is displayed.

The control image should appear for long enough to get the attention ofthe viewer and for the viewer to have an opportunity to operate thecontrol button of the input unit 6. However, it should not be so long asto disturb the normal viewing. It is possible for the system to allowthe viewer to select the period for which control images should bedisplayed.

Another use of control images is as follows. At the end of a televisionprogram, the broadcaster may inform the audience of another program.This might be unrelated or might be the next part of the same series ofprograms. The broadcaster can broadcast precise information about theparticular event, thereby easily allowing the viewer to associate acontrol image and action with that event.

In addition to displaying control images, the system may also displaykey images. These will be discussed below.

The broadcast services received by the Set Top Box 2 may include acarousel of key files. These key files should include key images,together with other data for execution. Typically, the other data wouldrelate to audio/video sequences for display on the television display 4.

During use, the Set Top Box downloads at least one key file from thecarousel and, under the control of the controller 18 stores it in acache memory. In this way, whenever the Set Top Box wishes to access akey file including the key image and associated executable data, it isimmediately available from the cache memory and need not be downloaded.

Events can be preselected by the user or by the broadcaster. In responseto these events, for instance the start of a particular televisionprogram or the start of a replay in a sports program, the control 18retrieves the key image from memory and passes appropriate displayinformation to the TV encoder 16 such that the key image is displayed onthe television display 4 superposed on the television service currentlybeing viewed.

The key image may be a static image or may be animated. It may also moveacross the television display. It should be large enough to berecognized immediately, but small enough not to disturb the normalprogram. As with the control images, the key images may have associatedsounds.

The key image is displayed for a predetermined period only. However, ifthe control 18 detects that a key command has been received from theinput unit 6, it causes the key file to be executed. Typically, asmentioned above, the key file includes an audio/video sequence fordisplay on the television display 4. Therefore, the controller 18provides the TV encoder 18 with the appropriate information to displaythe audio/video sequence on the display 4. In this respect, theaudio/video sequence may be encoded and, the controller 18 may also makeuse of the A/V decoder 14. The audio/video sequence can be displayed ononly a part of the television display 4, with the current broadcastservice being displayed in the remainder of the television display 4.However, preferably, the audio/video sequence replaces the currentbroadcast service until the end of the sequence is reached.

After a key image has been displayed, whether or not the associated fileis executed, the file is deleted and a new key file downloaded from thebroadcast carousel.

In this way, whenever a preselected event occurs, the controller 18causes a key image to be displayed on the television display, therebyallowing the viewer to access the associated executable file by means ofonly a single control button on the input unit 6. The key images and keyfiles are changed for each consecutive event. The selection of key filesfrom the carousel can be random or in sequence. Alternatively, thecontroller 18 may build up a profile of the taste of the viewer andselect key files according to that profile.

The use of key images is particularly advantageous in conjunction withthe control images discussed above. In particular, it is proposed that,whenever a control image is displayed on the television display 4 inresponse to a preselected event, it is displayed together with a keyimage. This is illustrated in FIG. 6. The control images and key imagesare similar in nature, for instance size. Furthermore, as is clear fromthe above, they may be static, moving and/or animated.

The provision of key images is particularly useful for providingtelevision advertisements. In particular, whenever a preselected eventoccurs such that a preselected control image appears on the televisiondisplay 4, the controller 18 will cause the key image of a key file heldin cache memory to be displayed together with the control image. The keyimage will be some image identifying a particular advertisement orproduct, for instance an image of a can of a particular drinksmanufacturer or the logo of a particular car manufacturer. The viewerthen has to consider only two control buttons on the input unit 6. Bypressing one button, the preselected action for the control image willbe executed, for instance changing channels. By pressing the otherbutton, the key file will be executed so that, for instance, the fullaudio/video sequence from an advertiser will be displayed on thetelevision display 4.

Preferably, the control images and key images are arranged so as tointeract in a pleasing manner.

Preferably, at least the position of the key image should be determinedby the control image, in particular from positioning data in the controlimage file. Hence, a control image can cause the key image to bedisplayed adjacent to it in some way. Also, movement of the images canalso be controlled by the control image. For instance, if a viewerselects an image of a canon to remind him or her of a military program,the control image of the canon could control the associated key image tomove across the screen as if fired from the cannon.

In order that the relative positions of the control image and key imagecan be properly controlled, it is proposed that the control image shoulddefine a locator position within the key image. The locator position canbe anywhere within the key image, though typically, it is most likely tobe at its centre, at the centre of one of its sides or at its corners.In this way, the control image can control the position of the key imageby defining the position of the locator position on the televisiondisplay. Thus, for instance, where the control image is a small figurethrowing an object, the locator position would be defined at the bottomof the key image so that the figure could throw and catch the key imagefrom its bottom. In this respect, it is also possible for the locatorposition to be defined dynamically. In other words, the locator positionmay be changed during the animation in order to enhance the animation.

Where a key image is to be displayed with a control image, it may benecessary to ensure that their characteristics are similar, particularlyif any form of interaction is to take place. Hence, preferably, beforeany display takes place, some negotiation is conducted between thecontrol image and the key image.

Negotiations may include setting the locator position as mentionedabove. They may also include comparing the number of frames in theanimation cycle, comparing the total duration of the animation cycles,comparing the aspect ratio of the images, determining whether or not theanimations are cyclic and comparing the image frame rate (i.e. the timebetween consecutive frames) for the animated images. It is also possiblethat the negotiations may consider the orientations of the images.

In general, where a particular aspect of a control image is notimportant, it may consider changing that characteristic, for instancedropping one of the frames from its total cycle. However, in general, itis considered that the control images control the key images and,therefore, the key images are modified so as to conform to the controlimages.

The broadcast stream may contain a number of carousels of key files. Inparticular, each television service or program may have an associatedcarousel. Thus, if a viewer has selected the start of a program on aparticular channel for the event, the controller 18 will download atleast one key file for that particular program. In this way, when thecontrol image appears and grabs a key image, the key image will beappropriate to the selected event. When this is used for advertising, itmeans that the key image can represent an advertisement for the sponsorsof the selected program. This might be of particular importance where asports program provides broadcast data indicating the start of replaysso that a viewer may be alerted to any replays whilst watching anotherchannel. In this case, sponsors of the sports program will want theirkey files and key images to be presented to the viewer whenever acontrol image indicates that a replay is taking place in the sportsprogram of the other channel.

It is possible for the key file carousel of the broadcast stream also toinclude control images. These control images could be downloaded by theSet Top Box so as to increase the selection available to the viewer.

It is proposed that the control images and key images should each takeup less than approximately 5% of the surface of the television display.In some systems, it could be arranged that the user can choose the sizeof the control images. However, preferably, the key images should thenautomatically be adjusted to have a corresponding size.

New key images are broadcast at a frequency that depends on the currentprograms, the available bandwidth and the time of day. This may vary,for example, between 1 and 20 per minute.

When a control image selects a key image or at least when the control 18downloads key images, the choice of key images may be based on acombination of a viewer's profile, the current channel and a controlimages choice.

The viewer's profile may be built up by the controller 18 by monitoringthe channels tuned to by the viewer, the key images opened by the viewerand any Java applications launched by the viewer. The controller 18could also maintain different profiles linked to different viewers, e.g.members of the family. However, in this case, the individual viewerwould have to identify himself.

The choice can be made on the basis of the current channel, since somekey images may fit better to the current program than others.

It is preferred that any key image will be associated with any controlimage. However, since some combinations may look better than others, itis possible for the system to allow key images to be chosen partly atthe preference of the control image.

The combination of control image and key image appears on the screen fora short time. Control images, together with the key images, disappearafter a few seconds (typically between 1 and 5). This duration may beconfigured by the viewer. During this period, the viewer may interactwith it using the input unit or remote control device 6. As explainedabove, there are at least two valid interactions, each of them beingtriggered by a dedicated button on the remote control.

For example, a green button may instruct the control image to execute anassociated action. To each event or event type, the viewer may haveassociated a single action. If so, the remote control's green buttonwill trigger this action. Valid actions might include an instruction tothe TV set or Set Top Box for instance to tune to a given service, to avideo channel or Java application or to power off or mute the TV set.Other actions might include instructions to any device that is connectedover the I-Link, e.g. if the event is the start on another channel of aprogram the viewer is interested in, the action may be to startrecording that program. Other actions might include the registration ofa future event to be notified. If, for example, the event that triggeredthe control action is a message from the broadcaster indicating that thecurrent program stops and will be resumed next week at the same time,the action could be to ask for a control image to notify the viewer whenthat program resumes. That new control image will have an associatedaction to tune to the corresponding channel.

The second dedicated button may be a red button for “opening” the keyimage. When the viewer presses the red button while a control image andkey image are on the screen, the associated file may be executed. It mayuse all of the Set Top Box resources, e.g. to tune to a commercial(short video/audio), start some animation (possibly full screen) or userreturn channel to notify the advertiser that the viewer is interested inhis advertisement.

It is also possible to provide a third button, for instance an “info”button. The info button instructs the control image to display a messageon the screen. This message explains the meaning of the control image'sappearance. Although this interaction is possible whenever a controlimage appears on the screen, the viewer would only occasionally use thispossibility, because, with most of the control images, he would rememberthe associated event and would not need any additional information.Preferably, if information is displayed on the screen, the viewer canremove it by pressing the info button a second time.

The system as described above, can be installed permanently into a SetTop Box. However, it is also applicable to any DVB-MHP compliant device.Thus, the necessary system may be downloaded as a series ofapplications, such as Java applications. Thus, the controller 18operates as a Java virtual machine. The DVB-MHP (Digital VideoBroadcast-Multimedia Home Platform) provides a standard abstraction APIfor Set Top Boxes.

Both the control images and the key images are then implemented as Javaobjects. Each of them can then implement an interface that is used tosynchronize location, size and speed of animation.

The viewer may associate the control image of his choice to particularevents with the help of different Java applications. Although differentJava applications may allow the viewer to subscribe to the same eventsor event types, at least a following range of applications areconsidered:

1) set up and configuration applications; these applications allow theviewer to configure the TV's resources (tuner, contrast, etc). They alsoallow him to set up preferences about events and control images; theviewer can enable or disable the notification of some event types (e.g.system events) and associate control images of his or her choice,

2) clock/alarm applications; these applications allow the viewer to setan alarm to single time points (e.g. on the 17 October at 20.00) orrecurring time points (e.g. every Friday at 22.25),

3) electronic program guides (E.P.G.),

4) event notifications (control image appearances); the actionassociated to a control image may be to be a subscription to anotherevent.

At all times the viewer may start a Java application to display allsubscriptions, i.e. selected events. With this application, he candelete a subscription or change the associated control image. Both theviewer profiles and the list of subscriptions or selected events may beexported to and edited by another device (e.g. using the I-Link or amemory stick). The objects of the overall system are illustrated in FIG.7. The objects for notification, events, aglets, selected events, eventwatchers and MPEG-2 streams are illustrated respectively in FIGS. 8 to13 as ULL diagrams.

1. A television display system for use with a television display fordisplaying television services and internet information, and an inputunit for providing at least one command to the television displaysystem, the television display system being configured to receive a datastream containing a plurality of key files, each key file includingwithin the same key file executable data and a respective key imagerepresenting said executable data, the television display systemincluding: a memory for maintaining continuously over a predeterminedperiod at least one of the key files; a display section configured todisplay upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events, thekey image of the at least one of the key files stored in said memory,superposed on a displayed said television service, said key image uponactivation executing said executable data included in the same key file;and a command section configured to execute content of the key file ofthe displayed respective image conditional upon a key command beingprovided by the input unit.
 2. The television display system accordingto claim 1, further comprising: a processor configured to, uponexecution of the executable data of the key file, receive informationvia the internet.
 3. The television display system according to claim 2,wherein the display of the key image serves to indicate availability ofaccess to further data.
 4. The television display system according toclaim 3, wherein the display section is further configured to display acontrol image included in a control image file, which also includespositioning data, and to superimpose the key image with the controlimage according to the positioning data determined from the controlimage file.
 5. The television display system according claim 4, furthercomprising: a detection section configured to detect an eventcorresponding to a network communication problem, wherein the displaysection is configured to, in response to the event corresponding to anetwork communication problem, display the control image.
 6. Thetelevision display system according to claim 4, wherein the displaysection is further configured to display the key image for apredetermined period of time.
 7. The television display system accordingto claim 1, wherein the display section is further configured to displaya key image upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected eventsselected by a user.
 8. The television display system according to claim1, wherein the display section is further configured to display a keyimage upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events selectedby a broadcaster.
 9. The television display system according to claim 1,wherein the display section is further configured to display a key imageupon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events determined bythe television display system.
 10. The television display systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the display section is further configuredto display a key image upon occurrence of any of a number of preselectedevents, at least one of the preselected events being a stream event. 11.The television display system according to claim 1, wherein thetelevision display system is configured to receive key files from abroadcast carousel.
 12. The television display system according to claim1, wherein the display section is further configured to receiveaudio/video content on demand, upon execution of the executable dataincluded in the key file.
 13. The television display system according toclaim 1, wherein the executable data includes audio and video data. 14.A hybrid television receiver internet terminal for use with a displayfor displaying television services and internet information, and aninput for providing at least one command to the terminal, the terminalbeing configured to receive a data stream including a plurality of keyfiles, each key file including within the same key file executable dataand a respective key image representing said executable data, theterminal including: a memory for maintaining continuously over apredetermined period at least one of the key files; a processorconfigured to drive the display to display, upon occurrence of any of anumber of preselected events, the key image of the at least one of thekey files stored in said memory, superposed on a displayed saidtelevision service, said key image upon activation executing saidexecutable data included in the same key file; and a command sectionconfigured to execute content of the key file of the displayedrespective image conditional upon a key command being provided by theinput unit.
 15. A set-top box for use with a television display fordisplaying television services and internet information, and an inputunit for providing at least one command to the set-top box, the set-topbox being configured to receive a data stream containing a plurality ofkey files, each key file including within the same key file executabledata and a respective key image representing said executable data, theset-top box including: a memory for maintaining continuously over apredetermined period at least one of the key files; a processorconfigured to drive the display to display, upon occurrence of any of anumber of preselected events, the key image of the at least one of thekey files stored in said memory, superposed on a displayed saidtelevision service, said key image upon activation executing saidexecutable data included in the same key file; and a command sectionconfigured to execute content of the key file of the displayedrespective image conditional upon a key command being provided by theinput unit.
 16. A broadcast carousel in combination with an internetserver for providing said data stream containing a plurality of keyfiles for use with the television display system of claim
 1. 17. Abroadcast system in combination with an internet server for providing,for reception by a television display system, a data stream containing aplurality of key files, each key file including within the same key fileexecutable data and a respective key image representing said executabledata wherein: each key file is configured to be maintained continuouslyin a memory of the television display system over a predeterminedperiod, a display section of the television display system displays,upon occurrence of any of a number of preselected events, a key imageand a key command being provided by an input unit of the televisiondisplay system, the executable data included in the same key file as thekey image being configured to be executed by a command section of atelevision display system.
 18. The broadcast system according to claim17, including a broadcast carousel for providing said data stream.